Headlight foe



L. L.-LEHMANN.

HEADLIGHT FOR AUTOMOBILES.

APPLICATION FILED APR,2I. 1919.

1,309,952. I Patented July 15, 1919.

2 SHEETS-SHEET l.

L. L. LEHMANN.

HEADLIGHT FOR AUTOMOBILES. APPLICATION FILED A? R.21. 1919 LAWRENCE L. LEI-IMANN, OF DAYTON, OHIO.

HEADLIGHT FOR AUTOMOBILES.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 15, 11919.

Application filed April 21, 1919. Serial No. 291,703.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, LAWRENCE L. Lini- MANN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Dayton, in the county of Montgomery and State of Ohio, have invented certam new and useful Improvements in Headlights for Automobiles, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in lamps or head-lights for automobiles.

The object of the said invention is to provide a lamp or head-light by means of which a difl'used light of maximum brilliancy and penetration is obtainable and the light is so diffused or refracted that the character of the road or ound ahead may be readily seen without lmpairing the sight of the occupants of other automobiles or pedestrians coming from an opposite direction.

The invention resides to a great extent if not wholly in the formation and construction of the glass lens whereby the light is reflected by a mirror through diflusing walls against the main reflector and is thereby reflected forwardly through said diffusing walls to the road or ground ahead. The light is reflected with considerable intensity and diffused to an extent that the glare is wholly eliminated and the annoyances mentioned above are thereby avoided.

Referring to .the accompanying drawings which illustrate my invention,

Figure 1 is a front elevation of alamp of the character described in which my improved lens is applied.

Fig. 2 is a section of the line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a top plan View of the lens removed from its'supportingframe and the reflector.

Fig. 4 is a, section on: the line 4.4 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 5 is a -section on the line 5-5 of Fig. 4'. v

The lens is of a compound character, be-

ing constructed in several integral parts with different coordinating functions. In its entirety it isglass throughout and consist'sof a vertical front inclosing plate 1-- of suitable thickness to meet the require ments of such an element. The said front plate -1-- is flat and of circular form with its marginal edge secured in a suitable round metallic supporting frame 2-, said marin being grooved at '7 to receive the inner circumference of the frame. The lamp in its entirety is inclosed in the rear by a reflector 4 of the usual bowl-shaped form, the marginal flange 5 of which is received by a groove 6 in the inside of the front plate 1. Of course, the lens may be mounted in any suitable frame or 1n any desirable way as well as the reflector, these being mere details which may be varied one way or the other. From a point slightly above the center of the plate --1 a horizontal glass plate or wall 8 extends rearwardly. This integral glass plate -8 forms a flat reflecting part which extends across the front plate -1- in proximity to the circumferential edge thereof, for example at the points -.-9.' From the terminals .9 of the said part 8 it extends downwardly in side curvatures or walls 10' which unite in the formation of a lower wall 11-, the said parts or extensions -l0 and 11 forming a reflecting and diffusing chamber or zone 12. The side and lower portions -10- and 11 of the lens so consisting of integral glass walls, taper as they extend rearwardly from the front plate -l and re duce the area inclosed thereby. In this part of the inclosure the lamp or bulb -l2-, is placed. The horizontal wall 8, on its inner side, is made to perform the function of a mirror or looking glass by having a backing of any suitable reflecting substance, such as quicksilver, tinfoil, black paint etc. applied to it. It is to be seen therefore, that the light does not penetrate upwardly through this portion of the structure forming the lens, but is reflected outwardly and downwardly by the mirror against the rounded and contracted sides and lower portions 10-- and 11, The said parts are made light-diffusing by being ground or sand-blasted or etched. The portion of the front glass portion 1 below the horizontal mirror portion -8 is clear and unobstructed and is in front of the lamp zone 12 or space inclosed by the extensions --8.10 and 11. The light is reflected by the said mirror portion through the diffusing walls 10-* and 11 and is diffused through these parts against the reflector & from whence it is reflected back through said diffusing walls and the front glass 1 to the road or ground a substantial distance ahead. The front glass 1 above the horizontal mirror portion 8 is formed on its inner side with a series of hollow planes or prisms 12 which diffuse whatever light is reflected to the upper portion. of the lens. lhe rearward contracted extensions 10- and -11 of the lens difluse the light directly against the reflector lwhich in turn reflects it back through these light diffusing parts and through the front glass -1 free from any glare but in an unretarded brilliancy. The lamp 12'-- occupies a position in line with the center of the front glass -1 and in order to dim the light at that point of the said front glass it is provided with a ground area 15 of sufiicient size to obstruct the glare from the lamp or bulb.

Fromthe foregoing explanation of the invention, it will be understood that the light is reflected downwardly by the mirror portion of the and is diffused through the walls -10- and 11 over a substantial area of the reflector -4-, which in turn projects it back through said diffusing walls over an increased area throu h the front plate 1 of the lens, and the light in its course is directed downwardly to the road or ground ahead a desirable distance.

Having described my invention, I claim:

1, A light reflecting and diffusing lens for head-lights, comprising a transparent front plate, flecting plate integral with said front plate and adapted to reflect the light downwardly, said horizontal reflecting plate extending in downward continuous light diffusing side and bottom walls through which the re-- flected light is diffused, in combination with a reflector arranged in the rear of the lens lens with added intensity,-

a rearwardly extending horizontal re and adapted to reflect the light forwardly through said diffusing walls and the front plate.

2. A lens for head-lights, comprising a v front transparent protecting plate, a horizontal mirror plate extending rearwardly light downwardly, and circular side and bottom light-diffusing walls extending from said mirror plate, said side and bottom Walls providing a lamp space in the rear of the front plate, and a main reflector arranged in the rear of the said lamp space.

3. A lens for head-lights, comprising a front transparent plate, a horizontal mirror plate extending rearwardly from said front plate and adapted to reflect the light downwardly, and continuous circular side and bottom walls projected from said mirror plate, said side and bottom walls tapering rearwardly and providing a contracted lamp space in the rear of the front plate, the said front plate above the plane of the mirror plate having its inner surface semi-transparent or translucent.

fl. In a head-light, the combination with a main light reflector, of a front plate to which said main reflector is attached, said front plate being divided in to transparent and translucent parts, a horizontal down-- wardly reflecting plate extending from said front'plate, and continuous translucent walls extending from said horizontal plate and united with the front plate and forming a light chamber in the rear of said front plate and below said reflecting plate.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

LAWRENCE L. LEHMANN.

,from said front plate and adapted to reflect 

